Many of my previous articles have touched on the notion of how truly competitive built environments are rife with connectivity, from the small scale to the vast campuses and further into global portfolios. Sensors and meters, along with extensive control capability embedded into the equipment, provide a connected and monitored world using sophisticated cross-platform management […]
Extron has launched the new XPA 1002 Plus, a half rack 1U, convection cooled power amplifier delivering two channels of 100 watts into 4 or 8 ohms. This professional grade amplifier offers more power than the original XPA 1002, but features the same 105 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.05 percent THD+N specifications. The XPA 1002 […]
The new S310 screen option for Christie MicroTiles reduces seams to just 0.7 millimeters. Unless you’re a newbie to the AV industry or can’t read, you’ve likely heard about and seen MicroTiles in action. Combining the strengths of DLP and LED technology, Christie MicroTiles allow you to create a digital canvas using as many (or […]
There are so many good points to using energy efficient products as one of the most cost-effective, simple and quick ways to reduce energy consumption and lower green house gas emissions. The ICT industry is ripe with tools, products and software capable of proving out these efficiency gains. Companies are falling over themselves to show […]
To help advance a coordinated approach to energy efficiency for the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has convened the Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative (EESCC). As part of these meetings, the ANSI/INFOCOMM 4:2012 Audiovisual Systems Energy Management Standard has been selected for inclusion in the EESCC Inventory Database. The standard was cited […]
The new PN-U473 from Sharp is a 47-inch LED backlit LCD monitor designed for commercial applications. It can run 24/7 and can be mounted in landscape or portrait configurations. The 40-pound PN-U473 is 2″ deep and is both LEED and ADA compliant. It offers 1920×1080 resolution; VGA, HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort inputs; 700 cd/m2 brightness; […]
For HomeAV or ProAV dealers looking for some new recurring revenue opportunities or who want to do marketing or branding around GreenAV, Energy Squad offers some interesting programs geared specifically to AV dealers on not only GreenAV products such as automation or energy management, but also on green products that AV dealers don’t typically offer, […]
As we approach the holidays and our year begins to wind down, I thought I’d have a little fun. I hope you enjoy my columns about world-changing websites such as change.org and green information on topics as varied as noise pollution, but I want to switch gears a little this month. I think we all […]
As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals, we often are missing an opportunity with a key ally in our efforts to work with clients to design and implement a wide range of technology solutions within the built environment. Most likely it is because we don’t have the language skills necessary to better communicate with this […]
BenQ America just introduced its revamped line of M5 series projectors: the MS504, MS521, MX505, MX522 and MW523. These projectors are aimed at small- to medium-sized spaces, specified with 3,000 ANSI lumens and a 10,000 hour lamp life. Every model uses BenQ’s SmartEco technology that includes a “no source detected” mode that automatically lowers brightness […]
By Philip Masterson Guest Contributor When someone says, “The future is now,” many raise an eyebrow. After all, we’re still not living in a science-fiction like world with unimaginable technology. You may question if such technology is even possible. But, reality is in fact stranger than fiction. The technology available nowadays, although still expensive, is […]
There are many in the audiovisual technology industry who chide those of us who beat the drum for designing and implementing technology solutions in the built environment with a heavy focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Their argument is one of profit versus performance, survivability versus conscience. Coming out of a major recession where many […]
OK folks, dig your tailbone into your seat and maybe grab a cup of coffee before you delve into this month’s column. It’s going to be more technical than usual, but I’ll keep it as relevant and useful as possible. Last month, we spoke about transparency, and how that can have huge implications in a […]
More than 140 delegates packed into London’s Dexter House last week to attend the Smart Building Conference 2013 — a joint venture of InfoComm International and CEDIA. Attendees were treated to insights from some 20 speakers, with separate tracks dedicated to the commercial and residential building markets book-ended by plenary sessions open and relevant to all. In the […]
By Cheryl Goldin Waveguide Consulting It’s not every day you get a chance to work hands-on with architecture students, to give them exposure to the business of building technology, but Waveguide, Spinitar and Crestron had that opportunity as sponsors of USC’s fluxHome team competing in the U.S. Department of Energy’s biennial Solar Decathlon. “We started […]
Lutron Electronics today announced three new features for its HomeWorks QS total home control system. RF SoftSwitch Module Switches large loads, like landscape lighting, pumps, and gates, without any wear on the relay, and without the need for multiple devices Can switch an entire branch circuit of lighting, up to 16A, from Pico wireless remotes, […]
The United States Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) defines a Smart Grid as a class of computer based technologies that provides remote control, automation and two-way communication to improve production, delivery and efficiency of the electrical utility system. For over a century, the utility companies had to send workers out to gather […]
The Smart Building Conference 2013, to be held at Dexter House, London, on Tues. Oct., 15, will be keynoted by two of British industry’s most renowned authorities on energy efficiency and building systems, the organizers announced today. The first keynote will be delivered by Dr. Steven Fawkes, chairman of Day One Energy Solutions and author […]
Home awareness and energy management brand enerG Corp will officially debut at CEDIA next month. The company’s Home Awareness System (utilizing the Z-Wave platform) allows homeowners to control, customize and automate all connected devices in the home and receive important system notifications on their Android and iOS devices. The enerG starter package consists of a […]
When I first started working in architecture a decade ago, I was employed by a fantastic firm that specialized in a building type we are all familiar with — the retail store. We did everything from big box, to mall core and shell, to tenant fit outs. It was a great fit given that I […]
Can you imagine living in a world where an 18 year old boy’s complaints lead to a meeting with senior executives of a global clothing retailer just weeks later? Or one where a woman’s initiative eradicates an ancient caste system in an Indian town? Well, imagine it — because we do. We live in a […]
BenQ’s newest projector is the W1500, a native 1920×1080 DLP projector that claims to be the first with the Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI). WHDI is a consumer electronic standard for a wireless HDTV connectivity that allows for uncompressed HD video over a wireless RF frequency of 5 GHz. WHDI is supported and driven by […]
Integrated Systems Events announced recently that its Smart Building Conference will come to London on Tues., Oct. 15. A joint venture of the company’s not-for-profit association owners, CEDIA and InfoComm, the conference was held for the first time in Amsterdam in January of this year (during ISE 2013), where it drew a sell-out attendance of […]
If there is one thing that has captured my imagination and leaves my head in the clouds daydreaming, it’s the concept of nonliving objects that can seemingly think, react and even anticipate needs. Often termed the Internet of Things, those of us in the AV industry are more familiar with the related concept of smart […]
To see a list of all the awards we are giving as part of our 2013 rAVe Best of InfoComm awards, click here. To see all our of InfoComm 2013 coverage, click here. Best New GreenAV Product: Tripp-Lite’s Monitored PDUs Tripp-Lite is one of the only manufacturers to have power distributors […]
Design Thinking – It is not really a term that is familiar to many people but has significant impact on our daily lives and, more importantly, how we can develop better products and solutions in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Unlike the scientific method, which defines the question, then works towards a solution after […]
Extron’s new PC 101 is a one-input, one-output AC power controller that’s designed to provide remote power management for AV devices. When paired with a controller or control processor equipped with relays, such as the MediaLink MLC 226 IP or IP Link IPL 250, the PC 101 can be configured to turn a device ON […]
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is something you’ll read about a lot over the next 12 months. Why? Well, because it’s the latest buzzword and people in technology like to sound forward-thinking. So, it’s no surprise that BenQ is using the BYOD term to market the MX661’s multi-user connectivity wireless capabilities — something that’s been […]
The world is going digital, and the architectural and design community is at the forefront of this revolution. The Internet and smartphones have not only generated new business models and consumer behaviors, they have also transformed the way architects and designers think about information and social connections in the built environment. As a result, digital […]
The Buildings Performance Database (BPD) from the Department of Energy is designed to ultimately make all building energy performance data public. The platform enables users to perform statistical analysis on an anonymous dataset of tens of thousands of commercial and residential buildings from across the country. Users can compare performance trends among similar buildings to […]
EnergyPlus is a whole building energy simulation program that engineers, architects and researchers use to model energy and water use in buildings. Modeling the performance of a building with EnergyPlus enables building professionals to optimize the building design to use less energy and water. Each version of EnergyPlus is tested extensively before release. EnergyPlus models […]
In each of the last two years, in the month approaching the annual InfoComm trade show, I have provided you with lists of the best questions to ask your manufacturers to help you with your sustainable procurement. In 2011, it was really my best stab at an organized list, based off of my personal experience. […]
